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​1994 Alumni Achievement Awards

Myron Dmytryszyn retired as general manager of the Research & Development Division of the Monsanto Industrial Chemicals Company, a $1 billion chemical company, in 1987. He began his career at Monsanto in 1947 as a research chemical engineer in the Organic Chemicals Division. During his 40 years at Monsanto, Dr. Dmytryszyn experienced steady growth in managerial and technical responsibility in such assignments as director of Design, Construction and Engineering Technology for the Corporate Engineering Department and as general manager of the Technology Division for the Monsanto Chemical Intermediate Company. Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions to engineering technology and the entire chemical industry.

Dr. Dmytryszyn graduated from Washington University with three degrees in Chemical Engineering: a Bachelor of Science in 1947, a Master of Science in 1949, and a Doctor of Science in 1957. For the past five years, Dr. Dmytryszyn has had an ongoing relationship with the University as affiliate professor in the Department of Engineering and Policy.

An active member of numerous professional and civic organizations, Dr. Dmytryszyn is a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and a member of the National and Missouri Societies of Professional Engineers and the American Chemical Society. He has been an active member of the Washington University School of Engineering Alumni Advisory Council; he is currently serving his second term as chair of the William Greenleaf Eliot Society Committee, and he will serve as president of the council next year. Dr. Dmytryszyn is a volunteer for the Saint Louis Zoological Park and Missouri Baptist Medical Center.

He and his wife, Georgia ("Sue"), reside in St. Louis and are the parents of two grown children.

Lee Harrison IIIBFA '52, BSME '59Alumni Achievement Award

Lee Harrison III is the retired founder, president, chairman, and chief executive officer of the former Computer Image Corporation in Denver. This company created computer animation for television, education, and industry. Clients ranged from Sesame Street to the Navy. It was this company that produced the first animated show openings for Monday Night Football, the Donahue Show, Harry Reasoner Report, and many others as well as commercials and training tapes for nearly every Fortune 500 company.

Originally from Belleville, Illinois, Mr. Harrison received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Washington University in 1952. After two years with the Cost Guard and a brief career as an artist, he returned to Washington University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1959. His professional career included positions with Philco and the Denver Research Institute. In 1960, he founded Lee Harrison Associates, which became Computer Image Corporation in 1967. Mr. Harrison formulated a technical approach that led to a new category, "Electronic Image Generation and Animation," in the Patent & Trademark Office; he also received domestic and worldwide patents in generation and animation. In 1972, Mr. Harrison received the first Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

An active alumnus, Mr. Harrison was awarded an Alumni Citation at Washington University's 1974 Founders Day. Since his retirement in 1988, Mr. Harrison has been involved in his community, including serving as the elected representative of the First Congressional District, Colorado, for the United We Stand, America campaign in 1992.

He and his wife, Marilou, live in Denver; they have three grown children.

Charles A. LebensBSChE '57Alumni Achievement Award

Charles A. Lebens is chairman of Bridge Information Systems, Inc. and chairman and president of Bridge Trading Company; he was the principal founder of both St. Louis firms in 1974. Bridge provides real-time and historical information on more than 150,000 financial instruments, receiving data from exchanges and research services that span the globe. Under Mr. Lebens' leadership, Bridge has expanded from fewer than 10 employees to more than 500 employees who operate out of 25 offices in major cities throughout the United States, Europe, and the Far East. By awarding the nation's top universities full access to the Bridge Information Systems for curriculum use, Mr. Lebens has demonstrated his commitment to higher education.

Mr. Lebens earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in 1957. After graduating, he worked as a chemical engineer with Sinclair Research Laboratories in Chicago. In 1959, he established Lebens Associates, a registered investment advisor. He joined Goldman Sachs & Company as vice president in 1964 and then Dean Witter & Company as senior vice president in 1970.

An active member of the professional community, Mr. Lebens is a Chartered Financial Analyst and currently serves as chairman of the National Organization of Investment Professionals. He is director and past president of the St. Louis Society of Financial Analysts of the AIMR. He is also a member of the Midwest Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Mr. Lebens is a member of the Washington University National Council for the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

He and his wife, Gayle, live in Ladue. Mr. Lebens has four grown children.

Eugene LohmanBSArchE'49Alumni Achievement Award

Born in St. Louis in 1903, Eugene Lohman spent his early childhood in pre-revolutionary Mexico, where his father ran a lucrative railroad business. During the revolution, Eugene and his sister returned to St. Louis to live with their grandparents. After attending Cleveland High School, Eugene worked for a shoe company and the railroad. With encouragement from his sister, Eugene graduated from Washington University with a degree in architectural engineering.

In the mid-1940s, Eugene Lohman, along with his father and brother, founded Chelsea Fan and Blower Company, a manufacturer of industrial and commercial cooling systems in Plainfield, New Jersey. Mr. Lohman first served as the company's vice president and then as president from 1950 until his retirement in 1971. In addition to his manufacturing achievements, Mr. Lohman held a seat on the New York Stock Exchange and was very successful in managing his investments and playing the stock market.

Eugene and his wife Martha were married on May 3, 1930. Both Eugene and Martha were strong believers in the value of education. "I had to work all through college and found that pretty hard," said Eugene (Gene) Lohman. Explaining the challenge of juggling classes and a job, he said, "I was flunking integral calculus and the dean called me into his office. He told me, "You'd better pass that thing, or you won't graduate.'" After that warning, Gene intensified his efforts and passed the class with flying colors. Gene and his wife, Martha, realized that through scholarships, they could lighten the financial load for students and encourage the study of engineering. Since 1977 they have provided the School of Engineering with generous scholarship contributions that have supported numerous Lohman scholars.

Henry G. Schwartz, Jr.BSCE '61, MSSE '62Alumni Achievement Award

Henry G. Schwartz, Jr. is president of Sverdup Civil, Inc., a firm engaged in the design and construction of capital facilities for the environmental, water resources, and transportation markets. He has more than 25 years of professional experience with Sverdup in the engineering and management of water treatment, wastewater treatment, air pollution control, and hazardous waste management projects.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1961 and a Master of Science in Sanitary Engineering in 1962 from Washington University, Dr. Schwartz received a doctorate in 1965 from the California Institute of Technology. He also attended Princeton University and Columbia University's Executive Management Program. After receiving his doctorate, Dr. Schwartz worked on a one-year NASA project before returning to St. Louis in 1966 as senior engineer with Sverdup & Parcel. Subsequently he served as project manager, chief engineer, and corporate principal building the environmental engineering practice of Sverdup.

Dr. Schwartz has held offices with numerous professional organizations, including national president of the Water Environment Federation, founding chairman of the Water Environment Research Foundation, vice president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, member of the Board of Directors of the Civil Engineering Research Foundation, and chairman of the Environmental Protection Agency's Management Advisory Group. His great interest and involvement in engineering education led to his being named the 1989 Kappe Distinguished Lecturer at 12 universities. Dr. Schwartz serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Greater St. Louis. He is a member of Washington University's National Council for the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

He and his wife, Sally, reside in St. Louis and have two grown sons.

Arnold W. DonaldBSME '77Young Alumni Award

Arnold W. Donald is the group vice president and general manager of the Americas Division of the Agricultural Group at Monsanto Company, one of the world's largest diversified chemical companies. Mr. Donald has bottom-line responsibility for all crop, industrial, and turf agricultural products in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.

Mr. Donald was born in New Orleans where he graduated as salutatorian of his high school class. A National Achievement Scholar, he earned a bachelor's degree in 1976 from Carleton College, receiving the Dave Okada Memorial Award for his accomplishments in economic studies. A 3-2 student, he graduated from Washington University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and then went on to earn a master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago in 1980. He joined Monsanto as a sales representative in 1977.

Mr. Donald continues to participate in Washington University affairs, serving on the National Council for the School of Engineering and Applied Science and frequently participating in various activities at the John M. Olin School of Business. He received the 1994 National Black Alumni Achievement Award from the University's National Black Alumni Council. Mr. Donald also serves on numerous boards in the community, including The Leadership Center of Greater St. Louis, where he serves as president; Lindenwood College Executive Committee; John Burroughs School; and the Junior League of St. Louis Advisory Board. He is also on the boards of the National Agricultural Chemicals Association and the U.S. Feeds Grains Council. In addition, he is an active member of the British America Project.

The parents of two daughters, Mr. Donald and his wife, Hazel, reside in St. Louis.

William K.Y. TaoMSME '50Dean's Award

Respect for education, embedded by William K.Y. Tao's upbringing in China, remains a key element in his personal philosophy. His countless contributions to Washington University reflect this philosophy. One of Mr. Tao's most far-reaching ideas has had an immense impact: the annual named scholarship program. The School of Engineering established the first program in 1974; today all the University's schools have named scholarship programs.

Mr. Tao came to Washington University after earning bachelor's degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering at two Chinese universities. After receiving his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1950, he became a full-time instructor at the School of Engineering. He continued as an affiliate professor after starting his own engineering consulting business, William Tao & Associates, Inc., in 1956. Since 1965, he has also been an affiliate professor at the School of Architecture.

Recognized internationally as a leader in engineering systems design, Mr. Tao is responsible for many innovative, energy-effective concepts and applications. Although officially retired, Mr. Tao continues to serve as management advisor and building systems consultant to selected clients. On his business trips in the Far East, he often acts as unofficial liaison to University alumni.

A trustee emeritus of Washington University, Mr. Tao serves on the National Council for the School of Engineering and Applied Science. He received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1971, an Engineering Alumni Achievement Award in 1982, and the William Greenleaf Eliot Society Annual Search Award in 1990. Mr. Tao has received numerous additional honors for his professional achievements, humanitarian work, and community service.

He and his wife, Anne, reside in St. Louis; they have three sons and six grandchildren.